Transforming Streetlights into Smart Meters: The Future of Municipal Energy Management

As LED adoption rapidly increases, with over half of the U.S. outdoor lighting already converted, the potential for energy savings through advanced streetlight controls is vast. With rising energy costs, cities and utilities are beginning to scrutinize their energy expenditures, with lighting accounting for approximately 40% of a municipality's energy costs. However, without monitoring and control, flat rate tariffs are used to bill for lighting, leaving the true cost of lighting and IoT sensors in the dark. Enter modern Networked Lighting Controllers (NLCs), many of which meet NEMA's C136.50 standard for street lighting, enabling meter-grade billing data and Time-of-Use energy tariff support. Join this panel to understand the core principles of the C136.50 standard for street lighting and how utilities and cities can leverage these capabilities to accurately track consumption, explore dynamic rate structures, track and report carbon emissions reductions, support smart city applications and more. Ask yourself: “Can my streetlight do more for me”?